Apparatus for making metal binding strips



J 4 1935 1 H. H. J. KRUSE 2,003,448

APPARATUS FOR MAKING METAL BINDING STRIPS' Filed May 12, 1933 8Sheets-Sheet l June 4, 1935. H J, KRUSE 2,003,448

APPARATUS FOR MAKING METAL BINDING STRIPS Filed May 12, 1933 8Sheets-Sheet 2 agm/leya June 4, 1935. H. H. J. KRUSE 2,003,448

APPARATUS FOR MAKING METAL BINDING STRIPS I Filed May 12, 1953 8Sheets-Sheet 3 June 4, 1935. H. H. J. KRUSE 2,003,443

. APPARATUS FOR MAKING METAL BINDING STRIPS Filed May 12, 1933 8Sheets-Sheet 4 ',7' 63 I wId-m, M

fie/Mann 17. J 57186 lnamgL mw June 4, 1935. H. H. J. KRUSE 2,003,448

APPARATUS FOR MAKING METAL BINDING STRIPS Filed May 12, 1955 8Sheets-Sheet 5 158 fi e/77700015. JEuJe .June 4, 1935. H. HFJ. KRUSE2,003,448

APPARATUS FOR MAKING METAL BINDING STRIPS Filed May 12, 1953 8Sheets-Sheet 6 June 4, 1935. H. H. J. KRUSE APPARATUS FOR MAKING METALBINDING STRIPS Filed May 12, 1933 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Q 1- o l, ma M June4, 1935. H. H. J. KRUSE 2,003,448

APPARATUS FOR MAKING METAL BINDING STRIPS Filed May 12, 1953 8Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented June 4, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEAPPARATUS FOR MAKING METAL BINDING STRIPS Application May 12, 1933,Serial No. 670,807 In Great Britain June 30, 1932 16 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for producingtoothed metal strip, such as binding strip for cases, boxes, crates orthe like containers of timber, composition board- 5 ing, or othersuitable penetrable material.

In constructing one known type of container a plurality of wooden panelsare secured by their opposite sides to a pair of toothed metal bindingstrips, the teeth being driven into the wood, and

10 the strips are subsequently bent between adjacent panels so that thepanels assume their proper relative positions as sides and bottom, or assides, bottom and top of the container, the strips being provided with aflanged edge which serves to 15 locate the end panels of the container.

An object of the present invention is the pro vision of an improvedapparatus adapted for the rapid production of toothed metal stripsuitable for binding containers of timber or the like.

2Q A further object is the provision of improved apparatus for producingflanged toothed strip suitable for binding containers of the typehereinbefore referred to, the apparatus being easily adjustable in orderto enable it to produce strips suitable for containers of various sizesand shapes.

According to the present invention in one aspect, apparatus forproducing toothed metal binding strip comprises a row 'of punchesadapted to perforate and thereby shear teeth out of the strip,

30 a movable strip-support member having apertures with which saidpunches co-operate to set the teeth to a predetermined position relativeto the perforated portion of the strip, means for feeding the striplongitudinally of the row of 35 punches, and control mechanism whichserves automatically, upon the completion of a punching operation, towithdraw said support member, to actuate said strip-feeding means so asto advance the strip through a predetermined distance, and

40 thereafter to return said support member to its operative position.

According to the invention in another aspect, apparatus for producingmetal binding strip suitable for binding boxes in which the panels are 5not all of the same width, comprises adjacent primary and secondarygroups of tooth-forming punches, and punch-actuating mechanism adaptedin certain selected punching operations to impart working strokes tosaid primary group alone,

50 and in other punching operations to impart working strokessimultaneously to both of said groups.

According to the invention in a further aspect apparatus for producingmetal binding strip suitable for binding boxes in which the panels are55 not all of the same width comprises adjacent primary and secondarypunch holders adapted to carry tooth-forming punches, a power-drivenshaft provided with an eccentric or the like for imparting periodicalworking strokes to said primary holder, a secondary shaft connected tosaid power-driven shaft by a two-to-one speed-reducing gearing, andmeans actuated by said secondary shaft whereby a working stroke isimparted to said secondary holder during only every other working strokeof said primary holder.

According to the invention in a further aspect, apparatus for producingtoothed and langed metal binding strip from a flat strip comprisesrollers adapted to flange the strip, punches adapted to perforate andthereby shear teeth out of the flanged strip, a cutter for forming mitrecuts in the flange of the perforated strip, and intermittently-actingfeed mechanism co-operating with said rollers, punches and cutterwhereby teeth and mitre cuts are formed in the strip in predeterminedrelationship.

According to the invention in yet another aspect, a metal binding stripfor boxes has a plane main portion provided with a plane flange alongone edge of and at right angles to the main portion and a series ofaligned teeth sheared out of the main portion and bent, about a lineparallel and adjacent to the unflanged edge of the main portion so as tostand at right angles to the main portion and on the same side of themain portion as the flange.

One form of apparatus according to the present invention will bedescribed, by way of example, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. 1A is a side elevation of a part of theapparatus.

Fig. 1B is a side elevation, viewed in the same direction as Fig. 1A, ofthe part of the apparatus disposed to the right of the part shown inFig. 1A. 40

Fig. 2 is an end elevation, viewed from the right of Fig. 1B, of theportion of the apparatus that is on the near side as viewed in Figs. 1Aand 13,

Fig. 3 is a sectional end view, on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1A, of the nearside portion,

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of par of the power-distributiongearing.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, viewed in the same direction as Figs. 1A and1B, of certain moving parts shown in their working relationship,adjacent fixed portions being omitted.

Fig. 6 is a sectional end elevation to an enlarged scale, taken on theline 66 in Fig. 1B, of the near side portion in a differentconfiguration from that shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of certain of the parts shown in Figs. 3,and. 6.

Figs. 8,9, and 11 are views of a strip in verious stages of completion.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of a portion of finished strip.

Fig. 13 is an end elevation viewed from the right of Fig. 1B, of theportion of the apparatus that is on the far side as viewed in Fig. 13.

Figs. 14 and are respectively a side and an end elevation of the head ofthe punches.

The apparatus is arranged to be fed with a pair of metal ribbons, and toform from them pairs of finished strips which are deliveredsimultaneously. Accordingly it comprises two stripforming units whichare generally similar. These units are so mounted on a common base thattheir distance apart may be easily adjusted, in order to allow thestrips to be delivered at a transverse interval that is convenient forsubsequent operations.

The apparatus comprises the following parts which are hereinafterdescribed seriatim:-

(1) Main power distribution gearing which is adapted to runcontinuously. (2) Intermittently driven gearing which is coupled to themain gearing through an automatically controlled friction clutch andwhich serves to actuate the mechanism that feeds the ribbons into themachine and also the mechanism that discharges the finished strips. (3)The pair of strip-forming units which are arranged to produce aright-hand and a left-hand strip respectively. Each strip-forming unitcomprises: (a) A battery of intermittently-driven rollers for fiangingthe ribbon and drawing it into the unit. (b) Two groups of tooth-formingpunches, one of which is reciprocated continuously and the other ofwhich is operated in unison with the first group during every otherpunching operation, remaining inoperative during the alternateoperations, whereby long and short series of teeth can be formedalternately in the strips. (0) A continuouslydriven rotary cutter forforming the mitre slots in the strip at the points where it issubsequently bent in assembling the container and for parting offfinished lengths of strip. (d) A cam operated punch for forming holes atthe ends of the strips to accommodate fasteners. Rollers, driven insynchronism with the flanging and feeding rollers and serving todischarge the finished strips.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1A and 1B show the unit that is on theright-hand side when the machine is viewed from the end where the stripsare fed in. This unit will be referred to as. the near side unit. Theother unit (Fig. 13);

which will be referred to as the far side unit, is generally similar tothe near side unit except that its parts are of opposite hand, that is,one unit is a looking-glass copy of the other.

Main power distribution gearing.--A driving motor I (Fig. 4) mounted ona base plate A (Fig. 2) and disposed adjacent to the far side unitdrives through reduction gearing 3, 4 a highspeed transverse shaft 2joumalled in a bearing in the near side unit, which locates the shaftaxially, and in a bearing in the far side unit, in which the shaft isslidable. A pinion 5 keyed to the shaft 2 meshes with a wheel 6 keyed toa low-speed transverse shaft 1 journalled in the units similarly to theshaft 2; and to the shaft I are also keyed bevel wheels 8 and 3 meshingrespectively with bevel wheels l0 and l I fixed to eccentric shafts I2and I3 which form parts of the near and far side units respectively, thewheel 9 being slidably mounted on the shaft and located by the bearingon the far side unit. To the near end of the shaft 2 is keyed a gearwheel I4 meshing with a gear wheel 15 journalled on a clutch shaft l6and formed integral with a body member ll of a cone friction clutch, theslidable member l8 of which is keyed to the shaft I6 (Figs. 1A and 3)which forms the driving member of the intermittently driven gearing. Tothe end of the shaft l2 remote from the bevel wheel 10 is keyed a bevelpinion meshing with a bevel wheel 2| keyed to a shaft 22 to which issecured a cam wheel 23 (Fig. 1A). The periphery of the cam wheel isprovided with a groove 24 having undercut sides, the eight cams 25a and251) are spaced round the cam wheel, being secured by screws 25 engagingwith nuts 21 inserted in a locally widened part of the groove andafterwards slid round the cam wheel under the sides of the groove. Thegear train 20, 2| provides a speed reduction of 4 to 1. For the sake ofclearness, certain of the cams are omitted from Figs. 2 and 3.

Co-operating with the cams is a two armed cam follower I9 provided withrollers l9a and Nb and secured to a shaft 33 journalled in a fixedbearing member 34. To the lower end of the shaft 33 is keyed a clutchactuating fork 28 pivotally connected to a split ring 29 engaged in agroove in the slidable clutch member l8 (Fig. 2). A bearing bracket 30supports the near end of the clutch shaft I6, and to this bracket aresecured two spring tongues 31 having their free ends shaped to form a Vwhen viewed in plan. These free ends co-operate with V-shapedprojections 32 formed on the ring 29. The cams 25a and 25b are sodisposed that as the cam wheel rotates they alternately engage anddisengage the clutch, the spring tongues 3| serving to lock the clutchin its engaged and disengaged positions.

It is essential that the clutch should be capable of repeatedly engagingand disengaging the drive without appreciable variation in the amount ofslip that occurs during engagement. Accordingly the clutch is lined withfriction material l8 having a high coeflicient of friction; the partsare so arranged that the cams 25a exert a powerful engaging force whichensures that the clutch will take up the drive with a minimum of slip;and the spring tongues 3| are strong enough to maintain an engagingforce suflicient to prevent slip aftera cam 25a has disengaged from theH roller I90.

Intermittently driven gearing.To the clutch shaftlG (Fig. 4) is keyed apinion 40 which drives through an idler pinion 4| 9. gear wheel 42 keyedto a transverse shaft 43 journalled in the units. To the shaft 43 arekeyed bevel pinions 44 and 45 meshing respectively with bevel pinions 46and 41 secured to vertical shafts 48 and 49 at the upper ends of whichare attached mitre wheels 50 and 5| serving to drive the feeding andflanging rollers. A sprocket wheel 52 keyed to the clutch shaft I6 isconnected by means of a roller chain 53 to a sprocket 54 keyed to atransverse shaft 55 which actuates the discharge rollers.

Strip forming units.-Only the near side strip forming unit will bedescribed since the far side unit is generally similar.

Flanging and feeding rollers-These rollers, which are of conventionaldesign, are accommodated in a battery mounted on a table 80 provided onthe main framework casting B of the unit (Fig. 1A). The intermittentlydriven mitre wheel 58 (Fig. 4), meshes with a wheel 6| keyed to aninclined shaft 62 to which is fixed a spur wheel 83 driving the feedrollers 64a and 64b and the fianging rollers 65a. and 65b through theagency of idler pinions 66 and 61. All these rollers have their axesparallel to one another, inclined at 45 degrees to the vertical, andcontained in a transverse vertical plane. The feed rollers arecylindrical, while the upper flanging roller 65a has a ridge sectiontread, the lower roller 65b being correspondingly grooved. Thus thefianging rollers are adapted to deliver an angle section strip havingone limb disposed vertically upwards and the horizontal limb lying onthe far side of the vertical limb.

Tooth forming punches.-The punches are actuated by eccentrics I8 and IIformed on the eccentric shaft I2. Eccentric rods I2 and I3 are pivotedto pins I4 and I which are secured to a primary punch holder I6 (Figs. 3and 5) which therefore reciprocates continuously so long as the drivingmotor is running. Disposed parallel with and, opposite to the primarypunch holder 76 is a secondary punch holder 1'! adapted to moverelatively to the primary holder, the two holders being guided by a webmember 18 formed on the main casting B and a cover plate I9 suitablysecured to the main casting. Near the upper end of the member I8 isformed an angular table 88 along which the metal strip 69 is fed andwhich is provided with holes 8I through which the punches operate. Anangle section guide 68 secured to the web member I8 serves to maintainthe strip 69 in correct alignment. The primary punch holder I6 isprovided with two locking bolts 82 which are slidably fitted in holes 59drilled through the holder and through bosses 56 formed thereon andaccommodated in elongated holes 5! formed in the web I8 (Figs. 5 and 6).

These bolts, when slid transversely of the machine so as to enter holes58 formed in the secondary punch holder, serve to couple the two holderstogether so that they operate in unison; when the bolts are withdrawnclear of the secondary holder, the primary holder can perform a punchingoperation while the secondary holder remains inoperative.

The punch holders I6 and I1 are provided near their upper ends withlongitudinal opposed recesses 83 and 84 shaped to receive the bases ofthe primary and secondary punches 85 and 86 respectively. These recessesare clearly evident in Fig. '7, where the punch holders are showndetached from the machine. The punches are secured to their respectiveholders by locking screws 85' and 86', their bases being thus fixedwithin the recess on one holder and projecting into the recess on theopposite holder, so that their number andv arrangement can be readilyvaried. One primary punch and one secondary punch are shown in place, byway of example, in Fig. 7. The recess 83 in the primary holder is deeperthan the recess 84 in the secondary holder, and the depth from thepoints of the secondary punches 86 to the bottom of the projectingportion-86a of the base thereof (Figs. 3 and 7) is shorter than thedepth from the points of the primary punches 85 to the bottom of therecess 83 on the primary holder, so that, when the bolts 82 arewithdrawn, the primary holder is able to rise in advance of thesecondary holder through a height equal to the difference in depth ofthese recesses,

whereby the secondary punches are preventedv from rising far enough toperforate the strip. With the arrangement of punches'described it willbe obvious that thrust is applied to the base of every punch over anarea extending to the centre line of the punch whereby the risk ofstrain or displacement of the punches during operation is minimized. Thecutting portion of the punch is of a uniform fine wedge shape inhorizontal section, the upper end being cut obliquely in such a way thatthe sharp edge of the section is the uppermost part of the tool.

A pair of pins I68 screwed into the secondary holder 11 project throughslots I6I formed in the cover plate I9 and engage in elongated eyes I63of eye bolts I62 urged upwards by springs I66 anchored by pins I61 tothe cover plate. A shoulder I64 on each eyebolt co-operates with a stopI65 projecting from the cover plate so as to limit upward movement ofthe eyebolt. A pair of lugs I81 secured to the bottom of the primaryholder 16 and projecting under the bottom of the secondary holder 11serve to support the secondary holder when the bolts 82 are withdrawnand the primary holder rises in advance of the secondary holder, andthus to prevent the secondary holder from tilting and jamming. A pair oflugs I88 secured to the bottom of the secondary holder and projectingunder the base of the primary holder serve to ensure that, when thebolts 82 are withdrawn and the primary holder is descending, thesecondary holder will descend level with the primary holder so that thebolt holes 56 and 59 are in alignment.

Means for supporting the strip during punching operations, and which aremovable to allow the strip to be advanced after teeth have been formedtherein, are arranged as follows. An eccentric 98 formed on the shaft I2actuates through an eccentric rod 9| (Figs. 3 and 6) a rocking lever 92formed on a sleeve 93 journalled on a shaft I38 which will be referredto later. The sleeve 93 is provided with two arms 94 which serve toreciprocate a slide 95 comprising a webbed casting 96 provided with twopairs of brackets 91 (Fig. 5) which in turn carry two pins 98. On thesepins are journalled rectangular blocks 99 slidably fitted in jaws I88formed on the ends of the arms 94. The lower part of the slide 95comprises a strip support member I8I to which are fixed by taper cotterpins 88 a plurality of vertical screwed rods 89 slidably fitted throughholes formed in the slide casting 96 and furnished at their upper endswith nuts I82. Threaded over the rods 89 between the upper and lowerparts of the slide are compression springs I83, the nuts I82 and springsI83 cooperating to maintain the two parts 96 and I8I of the slide indefinite relationship when it is raised and the springs permitting thelower part I8I to yield elastically relatively to the driving part 96 atthe bottom of its stroke. The strip support member I8I is guided betweenthe upper portion of the cover plate I9 and the upper part I84 of theweb member 18 of the main casting B. A steel die I85 (Figs. 5 and 6)secured to the under side of the strip support member I8I is providedwith narrow slots I86 arranged to accommodate the points of the punches.The angular relationship of the eccentrics on the shaft I2 is such thatthe punch holders attain their highest position at the instant when thedriven by a gear train III, H2 from the eccentric shaft I2, this traingiving a 2-to-1 speed reduction. At the right-hand end of the shaft H0(Fig. 1B) is secured by means of a safety shear pin H3 of usual design,a crank pin H3 operating within a slot I I4 provided in a connecting rodI I5 pivoted to a lever I I6 keyed to a bolt-actuating shaft I II. Thelength of the slot I I4 is somewhat less than the diameter of the pathof the crank pin H3, with the result that the shaft H1 is caused to rockone way and the other while the crank pin H3 passes through a relativelysmall angle preceding top and bottom dead centres respectively, theshaft H'I remaining stationary at other times. The angular dispositionof the crank pin H3 relative to the eccentrics on the shaft I2 is suchthat the shaft H1 is moved only when the punch holders are at or neartheir lowermost positions. The shaft I I1 is journalled in bearings I I8suitably fixed to the web member 18 of the main casting B, and to theshaft I H are keyed two pairs of slotted levers H9 (Figs. 1A, 1B and 3).The heads of the bolts 82 are provided with transverse pins I20projecting within triangular slots I2I formed in the levers H9. When theparts are in the configuration shown in Fig. 3, the primary andsecondary punch holders being locked together, the pins i20 slide overthe far side vertical edge of the slots I2I as the punch holdersreciprocate. When the shaft H1 is rotated by the crank mechanism H3, II5 so as to withdraw the bolts 82 from the secondary punch holder TI,the pins I20 during reciprocation of the punch holders slide over thenear side edge of the slots I 2I (Fig. 6).

Mitre cutter.-The third-motion shaft I30, suitably journalled in thecasting B (Fig. 1A, is driven through 2-to-l reduction gearing I3I, I32from the secondary shaft I I0, so that it is caused to revolve at onequarter the speed of the eccentric shaft I2. To the shaft I is keyed apinion I33 meshing with a pinion I34 of the same diameter which issecured to a shaft I36 (Fig. 2) journalled in the main casting B and towhich is fixed a mitre cutter I35. The mitre cutter (Fig. IB) is in theform of a cylindrical tool-holder on the periphery of which are carriedfour tools Ia spaced at uniform angular intervals; three of these toolsare shaped to cut mitres in the plain upturned flange of the strip, andthe fourth cuts a similar mitre and also parts the strip.

Punch for forming fastening hoZes.-Referring to Figs. 13 and 2, a slideI40, suitably guided in the main frame casting B,'is provided with twodepending members I4I disposed one on each side of the mitre cutter I35.At the bottom of each of these members is provided a punch I42 (Fig. 2)arranged so as to be capable of forming a slot in the strip. The slide Iis actuated by a striking cam I43 and a return cam I44, fixed to thethird motion shaft I30, through the agency of cam followers I45, I46which are fixed to a rocking shaft I41. To the shaft I4! is keyed alever I48 provided at its far end with a jaw I49 in which is fitted arectangular block I50 journalled on a pin I5I suitably secured to theslide I40. A spring I acting on the cam follower I45 tends to maintainthe slide I40 raised.

Discharge roZZers.These rollers which are denoted by I53, I54, are ofconventional design and are contained in casing I52 suitably secured tothe frame casting B. Drive is transmitted by the chain 53 previouslydescribed so that the rollers are constrained to operate in synchronismwith the feeding and the fianging rollers.

Method of operation.-The size and shape of container which the strip isintended to bind having been ascertained, the number of teeth in eachportion of the strip is determined. Taking for example a container inwhich the panelsare vnot all of the same width, its dimensions beingsuch that the lid and bottom portions are secured to the strip bysixteen teeth, and the front and back portions are secured to the stripby eleven teeth, eleven primary punches 85 are fixed in the first elevenpositions on the righthand side of the primary punch holder I6, as shownin Fig. 5. Five secondary punches 86 are fixed to the secondary punchholder 1'! immediately to the left of the primary punches so that thetwo groups of punches form a continuous row. The four clutch engagingcams 25a are secured to the cam Wheel at intervals of 90 degrees in suchpositions that they contr t'mlf'" the cam follower roller I 9a when thepunchactuating eccentrics 70 and II are just approaching their bottomdead centre position. The four clutch-disengaging cam 251) are spacedfrom their corresponding cams 25a at such intervals as will ensure thatthe predetermined lengths of strip will be fed, between each punchingoperation, in the manner to be hereinafter described.

A metal ribbon is fed between each of the pairs of feeding rollers andthe motor I is started. If the speed of the motor is such that theccentrio shafts I2 and I3 rotate at R. P. M, the secondary shaft H0 willrotate at 30 R. P. M., and the clutch operating cam wheel 23, the thirdmotion shaft I30 and the mitre cutter I 36 will rotate at 15 R. P. M.Thus the machine will produce fifteen pairs of strips per minute.

Referring to the near side unit, the ribbon is delivered by the feedrollers 64a and 64b to the fianging rollers 65a and 65b whence it isadvanced in the form of a flanged strip on to the table 80, the movementof the strip taking place whenever the friction clutch I'I, I8 isengaged.

It will be assumed that the last group of teeth (namely the eleven teeththat will ultimately be secured to the front panel of the container) hasjust been formed on the nearly completed strip, and the manufacture ofthe succeeding strip will be described. As the eccentrics T0 and IIapproach bottom dead centre, the first cam 25a strikes the roller I9a ofthe cam follower I9 and thus effects engagement of the clutch -II, I8.The strip is thereby accelerated almost instantaneously to its normalspeed of advance. When the last tooth formed is near the mitre cutter,the first cam 25b strikes the roller I9b and thus effects disengagementof the clutch. The strip thereupon comes to rest almost instantaneously(owing to the load imposed by the fianging rollers) in such a positionthat the last tooth formed has passed the mitre cutter by a distanceequal to the horizontal distance between the right hand primary punchand the mitre cutter. The position of the parts during this feedingoperation is shown in Fig. 3 where the primary and secondary punchholders T6 and I1 are locked together. by the bolts 82, so that allsixteen punches will operate in unison during the subsequent punchingoperation.

As the eccentrics I0 and II approach their top dead centre positions,the eccentric serves, by means of the rocking lever 92 and the arms 94to lower the slide 95, whereby the strip-support die I05 is pressedfirmly on the strip 69 through the agency of the springs I03.

As a result of the continued rotation of the eccentric shaft I2, thepunch holders rise simultaneously, and when the shoulders I64 on the'eyebolts I 62 reach the projections I65, the pins I60 ride up theelongated 'eyes I63. The points of all the punches now simultaneouslypenetrate the horizontal portion of the strip near the angle thereof andeach punch shears a tapered tongue out of the strip, the horizontal partof the strip being supported during the shearing operation by the partsof the strip-support die I05 lying between the slots I06. When eachpunch has sheared the full length of tooth out of the strip, the farside portion of the punch forces the tooth against the backof the slotI06, the punch and die co-operating to straighten the tooth and set itvertically. While the strip is stillheld firmly by the strip supportmember, one of the mitre cutters I35a. cuts a V-shaped slot in theup-turned flange of the strip and makes a parallel parting cut in thehorizontal main portion of the strip. At the same time the cam I43actuates the follower I45 so as to cause the slide I40 .to descend,whereby the cutters I 42 penetrate the strip on the two sidesrespectively of the mitre cutter and form holes for fasteners. Beforethe strip is fed forward the cam I44 actuates the follower I46 so as towithdraw the punches I42, whereupon the spring I55 raises the slide I40to its initial position. These operations complete the section of stripthat will eventually be attached to the lid of the container.

The eccentrics are now moving towards their bottom dead centre, theeccentric 80 thus raising the slide 85 and withdrawing the strip-supportdie I05 far enough to allow the newlyformed teeth to advance during thenext feeding operation.

As the eccentrics approach bottom dead centre, the crank H3 on thesecondary shaft IIO strikes the upper end of the slot H4 in theconnecting rod H5 and thus begins to move the slotted links II8 towardsthe position shown in Fig. 6, the bolts 82 being withdrawn fromthe holes58 in the secondary. punch holder 11 as the eccentrics attain theirbottom dead centre position. Meanwhile the next clutch engaging cam 25ahas operated to rengage the strip-feed ing mechanism, and the strip isadvanced until the last tooth formed has passed the mitre cutter,whereupon the next cam 25b interrupts the feed.

The next punching operation, which forms the section of strip that willbe fastened to the back of the box, is shown in Fig. 6. The bolts 82 nowbeing withdrawn, the secondary holder 11 is urged upwards by the springsI 66, but is kept level with the primary holder I5 by the lugs I08. Whenthe shoulders I64 meet the projections I65 the secondary holder 11 lagsbehind the primary holder I6, as shown in Fig. 6, the projecting portionof the base of the secondary punches 86 occupying the lower part of therecesses 83 on the primary holder. Thus the secondary punches do notrise far enough for their points to reach the strip and they thereforeremain inoperative, so that only eleven teeth are formed. Fig. 6 showsone of the primary punches 85 co-operating withthe die I05 to straightena tooth and set it vertically. While the strip is held by the stripsupport die I05, the mitre cutter I35 forms a mitre slot in the upturnedlimb of the strip.

Upon reversal of the motion ofthe primary holder, the secondary holder,owing to the action of the springs I66 remains in its partly raisedposition until it is forced to accompany the primary holder in itsdownward motion by the lugs I08 engaging the bottom of the primaryholder.

When the eccentrics I0 and II next attain their bottom dead centreposition, the crank pin I33 reaches the position shown in Fig. 2 withthe result that the bolts 82 are slid into engagement with the secondarypunch holder IT by the agency of the slotted links II9. Meanwhile thenext cam 25a has operated to cause the strip to be advanced, and when alength equal to the height of the container has been fed, the feedingmotion is stopped by the operation of the next cam 25b.

In the next punching operation all the punches again operate in unisonas previously described, forming the length of strip that will befastened to the bottom of the container, and the mitre cutter makesanother. mitre notch. The punch holders having been restored to theirlowermost position, the bolts 82 are again withdrawn as previouslydescribed, the strip is advanced by the action of the last pair ofclutch actuating cams 25a and 25b through a distance equal to theback-to-front dimension of the container, and in the final operation ofthe cycle, which forms the section of the strip that will be fixed tothe front of the container, only the primary punches perforate thestrip, the secondary punch holder remaining inoperative. The mitrecutter again forms a plain mitre notch. This section of strip havingbeen completed, the cycle of operation .just described is repeated onthe incoming length of strip, the completed length of strip beingejected by the discharge rollers after it has been severed by the mitrecutter.

Figs. 8 to 11 show various stages in the production of a strip intendedfor a container having a depth corresponding to a length of strip havingfour teeth and a back-to-front dimension corresponding to a length ofstrip having six teeth. The strip produced by the far side unit ischosen for convenience in illustration. In Fig. 8 the fiat ribbon "0 hasbeen bent by the flanging rollers, as far as the point "I, to anL-secticn whereof the plane main portion is denoted by I58 and theupstanding flange by I59. The last tooth of the previously formed stripis denoted by I12. Fig. 9 shows the strip after the first punchingoperation; I13 is the mitre out, I14 the parting cut, and I15 are thetwo fastener slots. In Fig. 10 the second punching operation has beencompleted, and the second mitre cut I13 made; while Fig. 11 shows thestrip after it has been parted from the incoming material as a result ofthe first operation of the next cycle.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for producing toothed metal binding strip, comprising a rowof punches adapted to perforate and thereby shear teeth out of a strip,a movable strip-support member having apertures with which said punchesco-operate to set the teeth to a predetermined position relative to theperforated portion of the strip, means for feeding the striplongitudinally of the row of punches, and control mechanism which servesautomatically, upon the completion of a punching operation, towithdrawsaid support member, to actuate said strip-feeding means so as toadvancethe strip through a predetermined distance, and

thereafter to return said support member to its operative position.

2. In apparatus for producing toothed metal binding strip suitable forbinding boxes in which the panels are not all of the same width,adjacent primary and secondary groups of toothforming punches, and punchactuating mechanism adapted in certain selected punching operations toimpart working strokes to said primary group alone, and in otherpunching operations to impart working strokes to both of said groups.

3. In apparatus for producing toothed metal binding strips suitable forbinding boxes, of various sizes, in any one of which the panels are notall of the same width, a primary punch holder for carrying a variablenumber of punches arranged in a row, a secondary punch holder forcarrying a variable number of additional punches constituting acontinuation of the row of punches carried by said primary punch holder,and actuating mechanism adapted in certain selected punching operationsto impart working strokes to said primary holder alone, and in otherpunching operations to impart working strokes to both of said holders.

4. In apparatus for producing toothed metal binding strip suitable forbinding boxes in which the panels are not all of the same width, aprimary punch holder and a secondary punch holder for carrying groups oftooth-forming punches, actuating mechanism adapted to impart workingstrokes to said primary holder, and disengageable locking means wherebyduring certain selected punching operations said holders are lockedtogether so as to cause the primary and secondary groups of punches tooperate in unison, and in other punching operations are disengaged toallow said primary group of punches to operate while said secondarygroup of punches remains in-operative.

5. In apparatus for producing toothed metal binding strips suitable forbinding boxes of various sizes, in any one of which the panels are notall of the same width, a primary punch holder for carrying a variablenumber of tooth-forming punches arranged in a row, a secondary punchholder for carrying a variable number of toothforming punchesconstituting a continuation of the row of punches carried by saidprimary holder, said holders being parallel to and opposite one another,and actuating mechanism adapted in certain selected punching operationsto impart working strokes to said primary holder alone, and in otherpunching operations to impart working strokes to both of said holders.

6. In apparatus for producing tooth metal binding strips suitable forbinding boxes of vari-- ous sizes, in any one of which the panels arenot all of the same width, a primary punch holder, a secondary punchholder parallel and opposite to said primary punch holder, wherein theopposed faces of said holders are in contact with one another and areoppositely recessed to accommodate the bases of punches, which bases arefixed within one recess and project into the opposite recess, andactuating mechanism adapted in certain selected punching operations toimpart working strokes to said primary holder alone and in otherpunching operations to impart working strokes to both of said holders,the.

depth from the points of the secondary punches to the bottom of the partof the base thereof that projects into the recess on the primary holderbeing shorter than the depth from the points of the primary punches tothe bottom of the recess on the primary holder.

7. In apparatus for producing toothed metal binding strips suitable forbinding boxes of various sizes, in any one of which the panels are notall of the same width, a primary and a secondary punch holder, saidpunch holders being parallel and opposite to one another, a variablenumber of punches attached to said primary holder and arranged in a row,a variable number of punches attached to said secondary holder andconstituting a continuation of the row of punches attached to saidprimary holder, driving means for imparting periodical working strokesto said primary holder, a locking bolt carried in one of said holdersand slidable transversely to the direction of movement of said holderswhereby said holders can be locked together to operate in unison, andmeans drivably connected to said driving means for actuating saidlocking bolt so as to lock said holders together and to unlock saidholders be tween selected punching operations.

8. In apparatus for producing toothed metal binding strip suitable forbinding boxes in which the panels are not all of the same width,adjacent primary and secondary punch holders adapted to carrytooth-forming punches, a power-driven shaft provided with means forconverting the rotary motion of the shaft into a reciprocating motionimparting periodical working strokes to said primary holder, a secondaryshaft connected to said power-driven shaft by a 2-to-1 speedreducinggearing, and means actuated by said secondary shaft for impartingworking strokes to said secondary holder during only every other workingstroke of said primary holder.

9. In apparatus for producing toothed metal binding strip suitable forbinding boxes in which the panels are not all of the same width,adjacent primary and secondary punch holders adapted to carrytooth-forming punches, a powerdriven shaft provided with means forconverting the rotary motion of the shaft into a reciprocating motionimparting periodical working strokes to said primary holder, a secondaryshaft connected to said power-driven shaft by a 2-to-1 speed reducinggear, a bolt mounted in one of said holders and adapted to engage withthe other of said holders and thereby to cause said holders to operatein unison, and means for transforming the rotary motion of saidsecondary shaft into a reciprocating motion which is employed to engageand disengage said bolt.

10. Apparatus for producing toothed metal binding strip suitable forbinding boxes of various sizes, comprising a driving shaft,tooth-forming punches actuated by said driving shaft, and means forfeeding strip through a predetermined distance over said punches, saidmeans including rollers for engaging the strip, gearing for transmittingpower from said driving shaft to said rollers and comprising a clutch, acam shaft driven by said driving shaft, and cams mounted on saidcamshaft and serving to engage and disengage said clutch, the angularrelationship between said cams being adjustable.

11. Apparatus for producing toothed and in the flange of the strip, adriving shaft, and gearing connecting said tool holder, said powerdrivenmeans, and said feed mechanism to said driving shaft whereby groups ofteeth and mitre cuts are formed in said strip in alternate relationship.

12. Apparatus for producing toothed and flanged metal strip suitable forbinding boxes comprising punches serving to form teeth in the strip,power-driven means for actuating said punches, intermittently actingfeed mechanism for advancing the strip relative to said punches, arotatable tool-holder carrying a plurality of mitre-cutting tools spacedround its periphery, and gearing connecting said tool-holder to saidpower-driven means in such ratio that said toolholder rotates onceduring a series of punching operations corresponding in number to saidmitre-cutting tools.

13. In apparatusfor producing toothed metal binding strip, areciprocating punch of wedge section the working end of which is formedobliquely in such a way that the sharp edge of the wedge forms an acuteangle with said end, a table having an aperture through which said punchoperates, a movable strip-support member for holding a strip againstsaid table and provided with a slot to accommodate said punch, said slotbeing so formed that, when said support member is holding a stripagainst said table and as said punch shears a tooth out of said strip,said slot co-operates with said punch to straighten the tooth and to setit at a predetermined angle relative to said strip.

14. Apparatus for producing from a flat strip toothed and flanged metalstrip, suitable for binding boxes, comprising rollers for fianging thestrip, punches for perforating and thereby shearing teeth out of theflanged strip, a cutter for forming mitre cuts in the flange of thetoothed strip, intermittently acting feed mechanism for advancing thestrip, a power driven shaft, and transmission gearing connecting saidshaft to said rollers, punches, cutter, and feed mechanism whereby teethand mitre cuts are formed in the strip in predetermined relationship.

15. Apparatus for producing toothed and flanged metal strip, suitablefor binding boxes, from a flat strip, comprising punches for formingteeth in the strip, intermittently acting feed mechanism for advancingthe strip relative to the punches and including cooperating rollers forflanging the strip, a cutter for forming mitre notches in the formedflange, a power driven shaft, and gearing driven by said shaft forreciprocating said punches, for actuating said outter, and for operatingsaid feed mechanism when said cutter and punches are not in contact withthe strip, whereby teeth and mitre cuts are formed in the strip inpredetermined relationship.

16. Apparatus for producing from a flat metal' strip a flanged stripsuitable for use as a binding and hingeing strip for folding containers,comprising intermittently acting feed mechanism for advancing the strip,said feed mechanism including a pair of co-operating flanging rollerswhich serve to flange the strip, a cutter for forming mitre notches inthe flange of the strip at points where it will be bent in assemblingthe box, a power driven shaft, and gearing driven by said shaft forcausing alternately said mitre cutter to make a cutting stroke and saidfeed mechanism to advance the strip through a predetermined distancerelative to said cutter, said gearing being provided with adjustablemeans for varying the length of strip advanced during a feedingoperation, which adjustable means enable the apparatus to producevarious strips suitable for containers of different sizes.

HERMANN HANS JOHANNES KRUSE.

